The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is the second refresh on the original Bold 9700 and a slightly lower-end alternative to the Bold 9900. It featured a few design departures from the 9780, including a new style of media control keys, slimmer profile, and individually-segmented navigation keys. On the software side, the Bold 9790 was among the first to run OS 7 when it launched December 2011.

The update for the 9360 and 9790 is to OS 7.1.0.2841 while the 9900 version is 7.1.0.2840. It includes additional support and functionality for NFC as well as a fix for 9900 users who were having network connectivity issues after the last update (7.1.0.2108).

If you're a Bell user with one of these devices the update should be showing for you, but if not you can head to bell.ca/softwareupdate to update manually.

Claro Guatemala has officially released OS 7.1.0.865 for the BlackBerry Curve 9320 and Bold 9790. While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion. Thanks rroyy!

Following the lead of UTS and Rogers, who released OS 7.1.0.746 for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 last week, Taiwan Mobile is now the latest carrier to officially release this OS, but this time for the BlackBerry Bold 9790. This OS provides the option to change your LED notification color natively from within the profiles settings as well as other fixes and small additions.

While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion. Thanks rroyy!

If you are in the market for a new BlackBerry, or it is nearly upgrade time, then it seems that a couple of the UK phone retailers are offering the BlackBerry Bold 9790 at a pretty nice price. Orange has the Bold 9790 on sale on pay-as-you-go for £229.99 plus a £10 top up and Carphone Warehouse has it slightly higher at £279.99 plus the same £10 top up.

Considering that buying sim free the device will set you back nearly £300 this really is great value for the money. Most networks here have now rolled out BlackBerry 7.1 for the 9790 and the phone really is a pleasure to use. With Christmas looming up could this be the perfect gift for a loved one?

With the BlackBerry Curve 9360 still selling at £179.99 on Orange I would highly recommend spending the extra cash to get a much better built BlackBerry - with a better battery, great auto focus camera, a touchscreen and a nicer QWERTY keyboard. If you missed our BlackBerry Bold 9790 review please check it out here.

Telenor Serbia has officially released OS 7.1.0.714 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790. While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion.

*OS Disclaimer - Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base - do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *

*OS Disclaimer - Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base - do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *

It was only a a day ago that we told you that the Pure White BlackBerry Bold 9790 is available sim free in the UK. However, now the device has started rolling out in other regions. Hong Kong is the first to officially announce the new white version and it is now available from authorized carrier partners and retail channels. In addition - any customer who purchases the Bold 9790 in Pure White will be entitled to a power bundle which includes a battery and screen protector worth HL$508 for free.

Research In Motion are also keen to let BlackBerry subscribers in Hong Kong know that BlackBerry 7.1 is available to download for the Bold 9900 and Torch 9810. Customers are advised to visit http://hk.blackberry.com/update/ or use the BlackBerry Desktop Software.

It has been a while since he heard anything of the white BlackBerry Bold 9790 but it seems that it is now time for it to grace us with its presence. unlockedmobiles.com dropped us an email earlier to let us know they now have the newly available version in stock and ready to ship if you are after it sim free. The device will set you back a respectable £304.98 including VAT and they offer next day delivery.

If you have been waiting for the white Bold 9790 get your orders in quick. If you missed our unboxing of the black version late last year you can catch up here.

Jul 23, 2012
Official OS 7.1.0.569 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and Curve 9320 from Telstra

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Telstra has officially released OS 7.1.0.569 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and Curve 9320. While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion. Thanks rroyy!

TELUS has officially released OS 7.1.0.523 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790. While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion.

Jun 27, 2012
Official OS 7.1.0.523 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790 from Telkomsel

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Telkomsel has officially released OS 7.1.0.523 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790. While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion.

*OS Disclaimer - Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base - do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS).

Telenor Norway has officially released OS 7.1.0.336 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and Curve 9360. While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion.

Orange UK has officially released OS 7.0.0.611 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790. While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion.

A third UK network has joined in with the BlackBerry Bold 9790 love. Three UK announced via their Twitter account that the Bold 9790 is now available on their network. The smaller of the Bold series devices is available on Three's The One Plan for £35 a month on a 24-month contract, which gives you 2000 mins, 5000 texts and All-you-can-eat data. It is also available on Text plans 500 and 500 + all-you-can-eat which cost £28 and £31 respectively, per month. If you want the Bold 9790 on pay as you go, it will cost you £319.99 plus top-up of either £10 or £15.

That now leaves two UK networks left to release the BlackBerry 9790 - Orange and T-Mobile UK. They would probably be released on the networks about the same time since they are merged under Everything Everywhere. Orange still have theirs listed as coming soon with no release, T-Mobile on the other hand have it on their coming soon page listed as due January. Seeing as we're now in February, there obviously has been some delay. Hopefully, Orange and T-Mobile customers won't have to wait too long.

*OS Disclaimer - Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base - do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *

WIND Mobile has now officially announced that they will be carrying the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and the BlackBerry Curve 9360 in white. WIND customers can take full advantage of everything the Bold 9790 has to offer with a new Leap Plan featuring unlimited Canada-wide talk, text and data for $40 per month. The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is available for $49 with WINDtab+ or $399 outright.

Alongside the introduction of the BlackBerry Curve 9360 in white, WIND will be offering a special Share The Love Combo in February. Lovers can get two BlackBerry Curve 9360 smartphones for $0 with WINDtab and two plans with unlimited talk, text, and data for $65 per month. Full press release can be found after the break.
Continue Reading →

Jan 28, 2012
Vodafone UK releases BlackBerry Bold 9790

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Vodafone UK customers ... the wait is over! The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is now available on the network. The smaller of the Bold devices, dubbed as the little brother/sister to the BlackBerry Bold 9900, sports a 1GHz processor and a 2.45 in touchscreen display. It is available for free from £30 a month on 24-month contract, this gives you 600 mins, unlimited texts and 500MB of data. It is available on lower tariffs for a one-off payment.

In releasing the BlackBerry Bold 9790, Vodafone becomes the second UK network to do so (with O2 UK being the first). That just leaves three more networks to release it, as well as our favourite mobile phone stores Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4 U. Hopefully it won't be too long now until other networks have this awesome device available.

If you're looking to see what other BlackBerry are available from UK networks check out the UK BlackBerry Buyer's Guide using the links below. These are constantly being updated so it may be worthwhile bookmarking them.

It should come as no surprise that many people out there like to have their favorite BlackBerry device to be available in multiple colors, especially white. We have already seen most of the current BlackBerry 7 devices launch in white (like the Torch 9810 and Kevin's beloved white BlackBerry Bold 9900) and now they are adding two more devices. Set to launch in the second quarter of 2012, RIM is bringing both the BlackBerry Curve 9380 and the BlackBerry Bold 9790 out in all of their white glory as well. Choice is always a good thing, but so many white devices can't be so good for CrackBerry Kevin's pockets :-)

If you're sporting a BlackBerry Bold 9790 (and hopefully loving it) we have good news. WIND Mobile has released OS 7.0.0.609 for the taking. No word just yet of anything good or bad with this one, so if you give it a go be sure to hit the forums and let us know what you find out. Look for more official OS' for the 9790 to be on the way soon as well. Don't forget - always use caution when installing new software on your device.

NFC-enabled smartphones from Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and Research In Motion approved for use with Visa payWave, Visa’s mobile application for payments at the point-of-sale

SAN FRANCISCO - Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and Visa Europe today announced that NFC-enabled smartphones from Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Research In Motion (RIM) have been certified for use with Visa’s mobile application for payments at the point-of-sale, Visa payWave. The Samsung Galaxy SII, LG Optimus NET NFC, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900, BlackBerry Bold 9790, BlackBerry® Curve™ 9360 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 have been added to the list of Visa compliant payment products available for commercial deployment by financial institutions.

All the new devices certified by Visa host the Visa payWave application on a secure SIM card and feature NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, the short range communications standard that enables mobile phones to securely transmit payment information to a contactless payment terminal.Continue Reading →

Dec 22, 2011
BlackBerry Bold 9790 Review

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The BlackBerry Bold 9790 improves upon the uber-popular Bold 9700/9780, adding a touchscreen to the mix along with a more polished hardware design and BlackBerry 7 operating system.

Here's nice bit of weekend news for any Orange customers or anyone who's looking to a new BlackBerry Smartphone. Orange UK have posted the BlackBerry Bold 9790 on their coming soon page. The latest Bold device, seen as the little brother of the Bold 9900 and more of an upgrade to the Bold 9700/9780 line, sports a 2.45in touchscreen, slimmer build than the Bold 97xx series, as well as a 5MP autofocus camera, which could entice more users than the Bold 9900.

There is no date set for the release of the Bold 9790. It would make for a great Christmas gift if it was made available just in time for Christmas. Look out for the BlackBerry Bold 9790 review coming soon (Kevin tells me it's going live on Monday Tuesday!). Thanks James.

SaskTel has once again expanded their line-up of BlackBerry offerings just in time for the holidays. The BlackBerry Bold 9790 has now landed on the Canadian regional carrier and if you're looking to save yourself a few bucks on the device price or just prefer the smaller form factor the BlackBerry Bold 9790 offers it's a great option to look at. The BlackBerry Bold 9790 on SaskTel sells for $130 with a new 3-year contract agreement or if you prefer --$470 with no contract at all.

The Fedex guy just dropped off my BlackBerry Bold 9790, so I did the ritualistic thing and fired up the video camera and cracked open the box for your viewing pleasure. Though to be honest, the box is a review unit box which is often different than a retail box, so I skimmed that and moved onto a comparison. Of course, if you watched CrackBerry Podcast Episode 80 you'll know that I've already been rocking the Bold 9790 for a week now and gave a verbal review of it on that show (check it out if you've been eyeing up this phone).

The full out written review will be hitting the blogs soon, but in the meantime you can watch the video above in which I compare the BlackBerry Bold 9790 to both the Bold 9780 and the Bold 9900. I have to be honest - I'm really liking the Bold 9790. It really is a sweet little phone and a great evolution to the 9780. Two of the gripes against the flagship 9900 have been less than stellar battery life and no autofocus on the camera, and the Bold 9790 addresses these issues. I could say a lot more, but want to save it for the full review, hit play above and stay tuned for more!

All BlackBerry Bold 9790

A third UK network has joined in with the BlackBerry Bold 9790 love. Three UK announced via their Twitter account that the Bold 9790 is now available on their network. The smaller of the Bold series devices is available on Three's The One Plan for £35 a month on a 24-month contract, which gives you 2000 mins, 5000 texts and All-you-can-eat data. It is also available on Text plans 500 and 500...

OS 7.1.0.247 has leaked for the BlackBerry Bold 9790. This is an unofficial (leaked) OS, so while it's mostly safe to install, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS or How to Upgrade Your BlackBerry OS Using App Loader...

WIND Mobile has now officially announced that they will be carrying the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and the BlackBerry Curve 9360 in white. WIND customers can take full advantage of everything the Bold 9790 has to offer with a new Leap Plan featuring unlimited Canada-wide talk, text and data for $40 per month. The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is available for $49 with WINDtab+ or $399 outright.
Alongside the...

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 has been available on most Canadian carriers for quite some time now but WIND Mobile is gearing up to be next on that list. Previously, an OS for the device showed up on their software download page triggering the thoughts they would soon be making the device available through their retail channels.
As it turns out, those thoughts were indeed accurate as new...

Vodafone UK customers ... the wait is over! The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is now available on the network. The smaller of the Bold devices, dubbed as the little brother/sister to the BlackBerry Bold 9900, sports a 1GHz processor and a 2.45 in touchscreen display. It is available for free from £30 a month on 24-month contract, this gives you 600 mins, unlimited texts and 500MB of data. It is...

It should come as no surprise that many people out there like to have their favorite BlackBerry device to be available in multiple colors, especially white. We have already seen most of the current BlackBerry 7 devices launch in white (like the Torch 9810 and Kevin's beloved white BlackBerry Bold 9900) and now they are adding two more devices. Set to launch in the second quarter of 2012, RIM...

If you're sporting a BlackBerry Bold 9790 (and hopefully loving it) we have good news. WIND Mobile has released OS 7.0.0.609 for the taking. No word just yet of anything good or bad with this one, so if you give it a go be sure to hit the forums and let us know what you find out. Look for more official OS' for the 9790 to be on the way soon as well. Don't forget - always use caution when...

If you live in the UK and have been waiting patiently for the BlackBerry Bold 9790, then the wait is finally over. UK's favourite online retailers, Expansys and Clove have them in stock ready for delivery. The Bold 9790, seen as the little sister/brother to the Bold 9900 is available sim free for £359.99 from Expansys and £330 from Clove. This also makes it a little easier on the pocket than...

So far, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and the BlackBerry Curve 9360 have been the only BlackBerry 7 smartphone available in the Philippines. In the past few days this has change with RIM launching five new BlackBerry 7 devices. Technically though it is only four as one of them is just the white version of the Bold 9900. So, the new devices to make it to the islands are the BlackBerry Bold 9790, ...

Not long ago, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Curve 9360 were approved by MasterCard as the world's first SIM-based smartphones to be PayPass Certified. Today, Visa has joined in and approved not only the Bold 9900 and Curve 9360, but the Bold 9790 and Curve 9380 for use as Visa Mobile Payment devices. This is a great example of how NFC can be put to use in a way that will make life easier and...

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